Types of Butterfly Bush Types of Butterfly Bush Types of Butterfly Bush Kinds of Buddleia Shrubs: Pink, Blue, Non-Invasive Butterfly bush is lovely and draws butterflies, but the species plant is invasive in many areas. Seek non-invasive cultivars or native alternatives, instead. David Beaulieu By David Beaulieu Updated February 13, 2016. Butterfly bush shrub (Buddleia davidii) is known for many things. For starters, it's easy to grow and produces striking flower spikes, which, thanks to the magic of the cultivar developers, now come in a number of colors, including pink and blue. And of course, first and foremost, the shrubs are known for what they attract, namely, their namesakes, which are the closest thing to real fairies that our gardens will ever enjoy. So what's not to like about butterfly bush? You'd be surprised! It has its detractors, largely because there's one other thing the shrub is widely known for: invasiveness! Although not invasive everywhere, the species plant is invasive in enough areas to have given "butterfly bush" a bad name. Below I offer 3 resources on butterfly bush.

The third one introduces a Buddleia davidii that is supposed to be a non-invasive type. That would be welcome news, indeed! Admirers of Buddleia davidii in America's Pacific Northwest, in particular, have longed for news of a non-invasive butterfly bush.... continue reading below our video How to Make a Space Feel Brighter Butterfly Bush : Introduction Butterfly bush comes in a number of colors. In fact, there is even a multi-colored type (Buddleia x weyeriana 'Bicolor'). But before reading about some of the specific colors the plant comes in, newcomers to the subject may wish to read my introductory article on Buddleia davidii, which includes observations pertinent to the controversy that swirls around this shrub. When you're finished reading, come back and learn about some relatively new types that bear pink or blue flowers, plus (potentially) a non-invasive cultivar: In the Pink: 'Miss Ruby' I've grown 'Miss Ruby,' a cultivar with pink flowers, and I'm very happy with the blossom color. Fortunately, the "Ruby" part of the name isn't just there for show: This shrub's flowers aren't merely pink, they're a rich, deep pink.

Another cultivar offering pink blooms is 'Pink Delight.' Click the link below to read more about 'Miss Ruby': "Blue" Butterfly Bushes and a Non-Invasive Type? Frankly, I can't say that the flower color of 'Blue Chip' is its chief selling point. Maybe other gardeners have coaxed truly blue flowers out of theirs, but mine show only hints of blue. From some of the pictures I've seen of a type of Buddleia davidii named 'Ellen's Blue,' I'm thinking that the latter cultivar may hold out a better hope for gardeners seeking a true blue butterfly bush. But it's not all about the color with 'Blue Chip.' This plant is said to be a non-invasive Buddleia davidii. Learn more about this potentially breakout cultivar by clicking on the link below: Butterfly Bush - Buddleia Shrubs - Brighter Blooms Nursery The Complete Guide to Butterfly Bushes The Butterfly Bush, or Buddleia Shrub, is aptly named for its gift in attracting butterflies with its large, cone-shaped flower heads. The shrub also invites more than its share of hummingbirds to the lawn or garden all summer long.

All butterfly bushes add fragrance and interest to your garden with very little maintenance. They can handle a variety of conditions and once established, should thrive with rain water only. The shrubs' height and versatility make them perfect for several spots in your garden. Use butterfly bushes for privacy, where you can bird watch from a window, or just downwind from a seating area to make the most of their fragrance. And be sure to complement the colors of your favorite butterfly bush with a low-growing shrub. For example, pair a Black Knight's violet blooms with your favorite yellow rose. The Top Butterfly Bush Varieties Black Knight- Known for its deep purple, fragrant blooms and low maintenance. Pink Delight- With large, especially fragrant pink blooms that pollinators love and that you and guest will enjoy in cut arrangements. White Profusion- An unusual form of butterfly bush with aromatic white blooms that grows up to six feet tall. How and Where To Plant Butterfly Bushes Butterfly bushes are hardy in zones 5 through 9, and will make it through the winter in cooler climates and in nearly any condition. But if you want to maximize the shrub's blooms, be sure to plant yours in an area of your garden that receives full sun.

Consider the height and shade of nearby trees or your home when placing your butterfly bush. Also consider the mature size of the butterfly bush. The shrubs grow quickly and can reach greater than six feet high and wide by the second growing season. You can plant butterfly bushes in spring or fall. Before planting, make sure the spot you've chosen has plenty of composted matter, and loosen the soil down to about a foot if possible. This will ensure that the soil around the plant's roots can collect, but not retain, moisture. Butterfly bushes need well-draining soil. You can add either acidic or alkaline organic matter for these shrubs, as long as you keep the pH level at about 6.0 to 7.0. Your planting hole should be at least twice the diameter of the plant's root ball or that of the pot you've purchased. Water your new plant regularly until it's established, up to weekly during the hottest days of summer the first year. Caring for Butterfly Bushes Butterfly bushes are easy-care shrubs. It helps to add a little compost each spring, spread in a fine layer over the plant's roots. The best part of caring for a butterfly bush is the easy pruning.

You don't have to think about where to cut or how. Simply prune old wood nearly to the ground each spring just before new branches begin emerging. This invigorates the new growth, and you'll see your shrub go from ground to taller than you by early summer. As long as you are getting rain, an established butterfly bush should need no additional watering. Only water if in a period of drought. Deadheading spent blooms encourages more and longer flowering. Very few pests or problems bother butterfly bushes, and it's best not to spray them if you see signs of bugs such as spider mites because you'll also affect butterfly populations. Spider mites usually show up on the plant only when it is stressed from lack of water. If you plant several shrubs to create privacy or a hedge effect, be sure to allow for the shrubs' full size. Facts About the Butterfly Bush The butterfly bush hails from Chile but also is native to China. Horticulturalists continue to search the Himalayan mountains to identify new native varieties of the shrub. The shrub's leaves are also attractive, looking similar to large versions of culinary sage.

You might have heard that butterfly bush is invasive, but that's only a problem in a few select areas of the country. In most regions and with most cultivars, there is no problem with spread of buddleia, and it's even okay to leave some spent seed heads on in fall for birds to enjoy after you've had a full summer of fragrance, color and hummingbird and butterfly sightings. Everyone Will Appreciate the Vibrant, Sweetly Scented Blooms of the Butterfly Bush! The Butterfly Bush, also known as the Buddleia Shrub, has been a popular plant for gardeners all over the world due to its ability to attract butterflies and hummingbirds. For more colorful landscapes that are sure to demand the compliments of friends, family and neighbors, the Butterfly Bush is a wonderful choice. Beautiful, nectar-filled clusters of flowers beckon to butterflies! The Buddleia Shrub is known for its fragrant blooms. Colorful clusters of trumpet-shaped flowers appear on cone-like heads. These blooms practically call out to our flying friends, requesting that they come in for a landing and enjoy the feast.

A Brief History of the Butterfly Bush The name, Buddleia comes from the Reverend Adam Buddle, who was an amateur botanist of the seventeenth century. The Butterfly Bush' botanical name was the result of a posthumous honor to Buddle in 1774, which is when this Chilean plant first reached England. Explorers of the Victorian era later found a wide array of Buddleia in China. Today, horticulturists worldwide continue to comb the foothills of the Himalayans for new varieties. Butterfly Bushes Butterfly Bushes By Ray Allen, Founder of AmericanMeadows.com To a butterfly, it's not just another pretty flower. It's a butterfly buffet. Butterfly Bush (Buddleia) is a shrub-like plant that looks sort of like a compact lilac, grows quickly and blooms in mid-summer. But the name tells you all about it: Butterflies just can't resist the flowers, and flock to the plants when they're in bloom. The magic of Buddleia, and why butterflies can't resist it It's been a sensation in American gardens for years, and no wonder.

Butterfly bush is easy to grow, blooms profusely, and has that magical quality: Butterflies can't resist it. Here's why: It's not just the pretty flowers that attract the butterflies, like so many other bright blooms. Buddleias emit a special honey-scented fragrance that lures butterflies like a moth to a flame, and then once there, they find the flowers super-rich in nectar. A butterfly bush in the garden will often be seen with a mass of butterflies on the flowers, especially during hot sunny afternoons. Buddleias attract other insects too, like moths, and the reddish ones strongly attract hummingbirds. So it's more than a name; it's actually a botanical phenomenon. Easy and quick to grow Butterfly bushes are popular and hardy from Zone 5 south to Zone 9 . In the colder zones, they die to the ground each year like a perennial plants, but in more southern regions, they are somewhat evergreen. In the warmer states, butterfly bushes often grow to 10 or 12 ft. high, and require pruning to keep them shapely. They're happy in almost any soil and prefer moist ground, but will also do well in dryer spots.

They need plenty of sun, but will be fine with some shade in the warmer areas. All this tells you that this plant is a tough one, and should be easy to grow in your garden. A well-grown specimen can be a magnificent "fountain" of flowers, since the stems with heavy flower clusters tend to arch in all directions. The colors and named varieties You'll find pink, white, blue, and some very beautiful new bi-colors. Buddleia "Bicolor" created a sensation when it burst on the scene. It is one of the first with bi-colored blooms, often developing long clusters that range from bluish to raspberry to bright orange as you look from the tip to the base of the flower spike. The more standard varieties include deep blue/purple "Black Night" and "Pink Delight" shown above. Some botanists think the basic white Butterfly Bush has the most potent lure for insects. That's "White Profusion" with it's very heavy flowerheads shown on the right. A Butterfly Bush with pink, blue and white flowers on the same plant? Hmmm. If you've ever heard about this magical butterfly bush, I think I know why.

During the 1990's a very well know perennial nursery, which shall remain nameless, began selling "a butterfly bush with three colors on the same plant." The offer was such a successful bonanza for them, they repeated it over and over in ad after ad. And hundreds of thousands of gardeners bought. Well, what they got was really three small seedlings of three different plants grouped into one pot—one white, one blue and one pink. It all worked well, since butterfly bushes grow so easily and quickly, it really did look like one leafy bush as it grew. But once the "bush" was up and blooming with all the colors, if you looked closely near the ground, you'd see three little trunks, not just one. The effect was definitely one handsome bush with blooms in all three colors, but it was simply three different bushes planted very close together. New Butterfly Bushes to come? The genus Buddleia (or Buddleja to be correct) is a group of several wild species that are cultivated and hybridized for the plants we enjoy. Most are from China, but some have been imported from South America as well. The most popular is B.

davidii, which was brought into England's Kew Gardens in the 1880's, and is the parent of all the well-known Butterfly Bushes . However, according to "The Butterfly Website", some naturalists are still seeking out unknown species of Buddleia on the slopes of the Himalayas. Don't confuse the Butterfly Bush with Milkweed Some people mistakenly call another famous butterfly attracting plant " butterfly bush ", but that's incorrect. " Butterfly Weed " is the common name of our famous flame-orange milkweed native wildflower, Asclepias tuberosa. It grows from Canada to Florida, and when happy in dry soils and full sun, can be a sensation of beauty. Unlike the more common milkweed , Butterfly Weed forms a multi-branched clump only about 2 feet tall. It's one of the few native wildflowers that are so beautiful, they've been taken into the garden with no "improvements." The only changes I've ever seen in garden catalogs for Butterfly Weed is the name. Some retailers simply can't bring themselves to use the dreaded "W" word in their catalogs. Sometimes butterfly weed is sold as "orange glory flower." I've also seen "orange butterfly flower".

But any experienced plant person in the USA knows it's plain old, super-beautiful Butterfly Weed . Butterfly Bushes and Types, Care and Pruning Surely one of the top ten reasons people garden must be to fill an otherwise ho hum space with life. The color bursts of flowers; the exotic fragrances of leaves; the hypnotic effect of arching stems swaying in the wind; the singing of the trees as gentle breezes rattle their leaves; and the intriguing housing complexes, subways, and airports of the thousands of species of miniature life that accompany gardening all contribute to make it the number one hobby in America. One of the greatest treasures for providing life in the garden is the Butterfly Bush . Hummingbirds and beneficial insects, as well as butterflies, are seduced by the nectar rich flowers of these bushes. Stunning colors paint lengthy bottle brush like flowers in dazzling hues that complement most every garden color theme. Many of the Butterfly Bushes here at Mountain Valley Growers are planted in naturalized settings. These are allowed to grow in their normal rampant manner. While Butterfly Bushes have many virtues, their one main flaw is that the dead flowers are never dropped. Underline NEVER. From a distance, this is not so noticeable.

In colder climates, the bush takes care of this by dying back to the ground, but in the warm, 20 degree winters here the plants remain evergreen and ever holding these spent blooms. Several Butterfly Bushes have been planted in more formal areas where more effort is made to tidy them up. Early spring is when these bushes that adorn our patios and near gardens are sculpted. Using sharp loppers the weeping side branches are chopped back to a cluster of main stems in the center of the bush. The center stems are left as tall as possible without having the tops droop down. Usually this means some of the top growth is cut back a bit also. Even beefy side stems are removed if they are arching away from the main cluster of center stems. The result is a columnar plant that looks like a plucked chicken, but within a few weeks the bush is covered with fresh new growth. And, shortly after, it will be covered with fresh as a daisy blue or gold or pink or dark purple or light purple or white or reddish purple or bluish purple flowers that will stun and please, not only the life in flight, but you, too.

Even though there are over 100 species of Buddleias (also written Buddleja), most commercially available butterfly bushes are variations of Buddleia davidii. These bushes are hardy to minus 20 degrees and grow between 6 and 15 feet tall. Buddleias are vigorous growers that remain evergreen in winters with minimum temperatures of 20 degrees. Where winters are more severe they can be deciduous, merely dropping leaves, or herbaceous, freezing completely back to the ground. Phenomenal growth is achieved the next spring, even if they do freeze all the way to the ground. Leaving branches on until spring and mulching over winter are good practices for those in the coldest areas of zone 5. While flower colors are often referred to as blue, there are no true blue (or red) flowers in the Buddleia genus. Their colors range from very dark purple to pink to pure white. Some hybrids have orange and gold flowers. Black Night (perhaps the darkest Buddleia davidii) is a very old variety that can easily grow to 15 feet. It has an open structure and slightly shorter flowers than more modern selections . Twilight is a Mountain Valley Growers’ introduction.

It was bred here to be extra drought resistant, to have denser growth, and to have more heat tolerance during blooming. It has a pretty dark purple flower . It tops out at about 10 feet. It also does great under normal garden conditions as long as it gets proper drainage. Royal Red is a smaller shrub that tops out at about 6 feet. The flowers are a bit shorter than some others and the color is more maroon than red. At about 6 feet, the branches tend to splay out rather than grow upright. It might look untidy to some but we like the weeping habit and so do the birds. Harlequin is a sport of Royal Red. It has cream and green variegated leaves and maroon flowers. This plant rarely gets over 4 feet here. It may be marginal in a true zone 5 winter so a deep mulch is recommended. Branches sometimes revert back to all green but these are easily removed. Dwarf Blue , also known as Nanho Blue, was, at first introduction, thought to be a smaller bush. However, the bush can get up to 12 feet tall. The lilac flowers are smaller but very prolific.

Pink Delight is a tall, stately shrub with long bubblegum pink flowers. It gets about 8 feet tall and grows densely which makes it a good choice for a hedge. White Profusion has long, pure white flowers and reaches about 8 feet tall. It looks great planted with red flowers like Maraschino Cherry Salvia. Evil Ways is a golden leaved beauty. Perfect for darker spots in the garden. Gorgeous flower just like Royal Red. Sungold is a Buddleia hybrid (Buddleia x weyeriana) that is a dense, well-formed shrub that reaches about 8 feet. It is loaded with lots of golden pom-pom like flowers. It may need to be mulched in the coldest zone 5 winters. BiColor is a Buddleia hybrid (Buddleia x weyeriana) that grows a little slower and may be shorter than other B. davidii’s. The flowers are an intriguing mix of pink and gold. It may need to be mulched in the coldest zone 5 winters.

Fountain Butterfly Bush (Buddleia alternifolia) has graceful, drooping branches that are covered in the spring with sprays of lilac flowers that give the whole plant a water fall effect. Lochinch Butterfly Bush is rated zone 7. It is the most luscious of all the butterfly bushes with its silvery backed leaves and lilac flowers. A pretty companion for for Rise and Shine Miniature Roses which bloom around the same time. These four zone 8 bushes are a bit more unusual and require a warmer winter to survive than the well-known Buddleia davidiis and their crosses. However, they are just as beautiful and attract just as many butterflies. In warmer areas, they can provide blooms at times when other butterfly bushes are not blooming. Encouraging early and late wildlife to the garden by planting a variety of plants helps to make the garden work better. Winter Flowering Lilac (Buddleia asiatica) is our tallest Buddleia. It easily grows to 15 feet and perhaps a bit more. The white flowers are smaller and less showy than the flowers of a Buddleia davidii, but their fragrance is well worth it.

Blooming in late winter, the freesia like scent fills the air for at least a month. It has the gift of being spread on the wind, so that just standing 20 feet away the aroma surrounds you. Himalayan Butterfly Bush (Buddleia crispa) has the distinction of the softest, grayest leaves in the Buddleia genus. Unlike the Buddleia davidiis which usually have dark green leaves with varying degrees of felt underneath, this plant is all felt. It's soft silver gray leaves are inviting to the touch in much the same way Lambs Ears (Stachys lantana) are. While it has been reported to reach heights of 10 feet, here it rarely reaches more than 4 feet. This late bloomer holds its flowers here throughout most winters, but if the temperature plunges, the bush becomes a mushy mass that is better pruned back to the ground. Besides it's highly ornamental foliage there are also many small flower spikes composed of tiny lilac flowers with orange eyes. Orange Sceptre Butterfly Bush is a continually blooming butterfly bush. It has grown slowly for us. It's leaves are very felty and its flowers are intense orange.

The long blooming season makes it attractive to beneficial insects as well as butterflies. Orange Woolly Butterfly Bush has a unique form with its small round leaves and bright orange flower orbs. It grows slowly and stays lower than some other butterfly bushes which makes it a good choice for smaller yards. As with most plants we grow, good drainage is important for Butterfly Bushes but rich soil is not necessary. A 2 3/4 inch pot placed in the ground in early spring will grow to 3 or 4 feet in one year, and as much as 8-10 feet the following year. This makes these shrubs perfect for naturalizing vast areas or covering hillsides. Providing quick shade for hot summer spots in the landscape, they also make beautiful covers for fences, arbors or buildings. Their fast growth also makes them a perfect choice for patio planters. Small pots can be transplanted into 5 gallons and enjoyed a season or two before they grow too large and need a much larger pot or a home in the garden. While Buddleias do require some summer watering, it is not an excessive amount. Once established, as infrequently as once a week or less, can be sufficient.

A great advantage for the valleys of California is that the scorching sun does not adversely affect their growth nor does it burn their leaves. Even more importantly, the broiling sun does not fade the colors of the flowers. And, after all, the flowers are the main attraction. Millions of tiny flowers are formed along a bottle brush like spike. The length of the spike varies with the variety. The flowers of the Golden , BiColor, Harlequin and Dwarf Blue are in the 3-5 inch range. Royal Red , Royal Blue , Twilight , White Profusion , Black Knight and Pink Delight are in the 8-10 inch range and are often 3 inches in diameter. Blooms are strong solid colors that first appear in late spring and continue until frost. When temperatures rise above 90 degrees, the open flowers remain on the plant but new flowers buds are put on hold. This makes spring and fall in very warm areas better for viewing blooms. These large shrubs often give gardeners fits about pruning. The important thing to remember is that these are tough plants. There is almost nothing wrong you can do. You can prune anytime.

If you prune hard during the growing season the worst that can happen is you will cut off your flowers for a while. But, they grow fast and more flowers quickly replace those that are lost. The normal life cycle of this bush is to go dormant in zones 5 and 6. At this point the canes above ground are dead. They can then be pruned to the ground. This is usually sometime after frost. If you are in a marginal zone 5 area, it is a good idea to apply a three to six inch layer of mulch covering the crown. In zones 8 and up, the bush will remain evergreen and can be pruned to the ground or in any configuration that suits your garden. Here is a good site for perfect pruning points and pictures of many perennials. It is not only the vast amount of color Butterfly Bushes produce that butterflies and humans enjoy but also the heady honey-like aroma. Each tiny flower has a nectar filled tube which is just right for butterflies and hummingbirds, and ultimately, us.

Butterfly Bushes are included in our Wildlife Herb Garden Six Pack and are usually included in our Butterfly Attractor 36 Pack Assortment , a special collection of butterfly nectar and host plants. Sign up to be notified of sales events and new arrivals butterfly bush | Plant Propagation Reports Plant Propagation Reports Leave a reply Introduction Buddleia davidii, commonly known as the butterfly bush or summer lilac, could be a gorgeous addition to any landscape or garden. The first Buddleia species discovered was actually a tropical variety from the Caribbean Islands around the 1730s. Today’s more widely grown species did not start being used until the late 1800s and is native to central China. Buddleia species can be as tall as 6 to 16 feet typically; however, some species are nearly 80 foot tall trees. Dwarf varieties are also available to the public, only growing to be about 3 feet tall. It is important to note that the butterfly bush is considered an invasive species depending on the specific species and location it is being grown in. Please, find out this information based on the variety you would like to use and your location prior to propagating or growing this plant.

Figure 1: A few varieties of the butterfly bush. ( This woody shrub is know to grow quickly and to possess fragrant flowers that come in a variety of colors (white, orange, pink, blue, etc.). There are many species of butterfly bush, and many more are being created through the efforts of plant breeding. These plants are also known to be quite durable. Few pests or pathogens are known to greatly affect butterfly bushes, unless, of course, stressful conditions are presented. The plant also will flower again every year, sometimes losing its extremely vibrant color with age. As described by its common name, this shrub is known to attract butterflies (like the Painted Lady and Monarch), as well as a variety of other local pollinators (including bees, moths, and occasionally birds like the hummingbird and even orioles). Figure 2: Monarchs on the butterfly bush. ( These plants prefer full sun for optimal growth and should be placed in locations where people will be able to smell their fragrant aroma during the summer blooming months. These plants are even well suited for city-life, seeing as they appear to withstand pollution quite well.

The Buddleia davidii is suited for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 10, making them good for outdoor gardens. However, some bred and wild are best for only zones 7 or 8. These tough plants can withstand low nutrient and alkaline soils but do need an average, well drained garden soil to avoid rotting. These amazing garden plants are even drought tolerant. If grown indoors, daily waterings are needed; however, if outdoors, supplemental waterings should not be necessary (only once every few weeks during dry periods). Another tip for keeping a healthy butterfly bush is to prune yearly, thus avoiding their stem’s tendency to split with age. Many methods can be used to propagate the butterfly bush. These methods include, sowing the collected and dried seed heads from an established bush, dividing a healthy, already established bush, or with cuttings. Other methods of propagation, like tissue culture, are not typically used to propagate the butterfly bush. Methods like tissue culture are much to expensive to be worth using on a plant that is much more easily and cheaply propagated by other means. For the purpose of this blog post, we will be focusing solely on the instructions and tips for cutting propagation of the butterfly bush.

How-To General Supplies: Sterilized Sharp Tool (pruning shears, blade of some sort, etc. … the sterilization (bleach, heat treated, etc.) avoids the spread of disease) Water Potting Mixture (equal parts peat moss and perlite) Container (pot, etc. … must holes on the bottom for drainage) Saran Wrap (if a greenhouse is not available) Spray Bottle (if a greenhouse with a mist system is not available) Rooting Hormone (optional) The Stock Plant: Take your cutting from a healthy (vibrant colors, not visibly diseased or infested, etc.), well-developed butterfly bush plant. Pick a plant that is of the flower color/variety you desire, seeing as the propagation you are about to do is essentially a clone of that plant. Avoid plants that appear to have diseases, pests, and pathogens. The healthier the chosen stock plant, the more likely the success of the rooting of the cutting you are about to take. The Cutting: The cuttings taken from this plant are considered softwood cuttings (the succulent new growth that is not yet woody). These easy to root cuttings should be taken in the summer time (between May and July).

With your sheers/sharp tool take a stem on the upper portion on the plant, avoiding the flower buds as much as possible. Be sure to pick a healthy looking stem (vibrant color, minimal to no wilting or present disease, etc.). Cut your chosen stem to about 4 to 6 inches long, be sure to cut just below a healthy bud (as depicted in Figure 2). Remove the leaves from the lower 1/3 of your cutting. Figure 3: Where to make your cut! ( Figure 4: The fully complete cutting. ( Rooting Hormone: For a faster rooted cutting, rooting hormone ( auxin) can be placed on the lower 1/3 of your cutting (the end you cut and that will be placed in your potting mixture). This rooting hormone will also increase the chances of your cutting taking root. Dip that lower 1/3 of your cutting into IBA (a form of the rooting hormone) powder that is between 3000 and 8000 ppm. Before placing your cutting into the potting mixture, tap off any excess IBA powder.

Potting and Media: Thoroughly mix up a potting mixture of equal parts moistened peat moss and perlite. The mixture should be moist but not drowning. Fill your container with holes with your potting mixture. Place that lower 1/3 section (with or without hormone on it) into the potting mixture you prepared (with the area of the removed leaves and lower buds submerged). Care: Keep the potting mixture moist (but not drowning) and be sure to place the plant in bright (but indirect) sunlight. To keep the plant from drying out while it is rooting, lightly cover the plant with saran wrap (even a plastic baggie or plastic grocery bag would work) and mist it regularly. Transplanting: After about 3 to 6 weeks, the cutting will have developed roots. If you are not sure that your cutting has rooted, lightly tug on the stem. If you are presented with resistance, then your cutting has rooted. You can then either place the plant in a bigger container or out in your garden. Conclusion The butterfly bush is a beautiful addition to any garden, landscape, and even home.

It is extremely easy to propagate this durable shrub as long as the requirements (not invasive in your area, proper stock plant, etc.) are met and the steps above are followed. Have fun trying cutting propagation out for yourself and enjoy your very own butterfly bush! Figure 5: A beautiful butterfly bush. ( Works Cited Hartmann, Hudson Thomas. “10: Techniques of Propagation by Cuttings.” Hartmann & Kester’s Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall/Pearson, 2011. 345+. Print. Owen, D.F. and Whiteway W.R. (2003), Buddleia davidii in Britain: History and development of an associated fauna, Biological Conservation, 17(2), Pp. 149-155 Butterfly Bushes For Sale | Nature Hills Nursery This Week's Best Sellers Butterfly bushes tend to gather the interest of humans, butterflies, and hummingbirds. The birds and insects come in search of the sweet nectar and we humans are attracted to the bright flower colors of blues, reds, purples, and other color combinations.

Buddleias emit a fragrance that attracts butterflies like moths to a flame. The butterfly bush plants offered are of the Genus (Buddleia davidii). Butterfly bushes can reach 5 to 15 feet tall, depending on the cultivar. The butterfly bush is medium to large sized shrub that can be used in a perennial bed or as a hedge. They usually bloom from Mid-July through frost. The abundant flower spikes, some describe them as bottle-brush flowers; exude a fragrance much like lilacs. Butterfly bushes are fast growing and can reach 4 to 5 feet in the second year after planting. In northern climates they may die back to the ground during the winter and then sprout new growth in the spring. Butterfly bushes are easy to care for and easy to grow. They do not require quality soils and can perform very well in marginal soils. Buddleia davidii tolerates urban pollution and alkaline soils. Butterfly bushes can be pruned to the ground in the late fall and the blooms tend to be more prolific and larger on the plants new growth. Some butterfly bushes bloom on old wood so if you desire blooms, prune after they flower.

Allow at least 6 feet of space between bushes because of the tendency for the branches to arch away from the center. Dead flowers need hand-picked off of the stems because they will not fall off on their own. For continued boom, the old flowers should be removed to encourage new growth and more flowers. We offer several varieties of butterfly bushes and they a listed below. HGIC 1084 Butterfly Bush : Extension : Clemson University : South Carolina Butterfly bushes grow very fast and can reach mature size in 1 to 2 growing seasons. Landscape Use Butterfly bushes form the foundation for numerous butterfly gardens and are prized for their long, summer bloom period. Many cultivars will flower from June through October (if deadheaded) with peak bloom in July and August. They produce 5- to 12-inch-long panicles (i.e. long, slender flower clusters) in white, blue, lavender, pink, purple, yellow and many intermediate shades. The flowers are a nearly irresistible nectar source for butterflies, bees, lady beetles, and other pollinating insects as well as the occasional hummingbird. Additionally, their flowers have a pleasant fragrance. The shrubs are essentially round in outline and form an excellent backdrop for perennial borders.

Removing old flowers will encourage new blooms. Cultivation Butterfly bushes are amazingly tough plants and grow well under a variety of conditions. The one critical requirement is well-drained soil as their roots will quickly rot when waterlogged. Full sun is needed to ensure adequate flowering, and they prefer a soil pH of 6.0 to 7.0. Like most shrubs, they benefit from a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch. Once established they are fairly drought tolerant and only require moderate fertilization. These shrubs are very cold-hardy (USDA Zones 5 - 9), but as mentioned earlier, they may be killed to the ground by very low temperatures. This is not a problem since they will re-sprout vigorously from the crown (i.e. where the stems meet the roots). In fact, pruning butterfly bushes to within one foot of the ground annually enhances the flower display. This should be done before new growth begins in the spring since they flower on new growth. Avoid fall or winter pruning which increases the risk of cold damage. Seeds form after flowering and the dark seed heads are generally considered unattractive.

Deadheading the spent panicles before they go to seed provides a neater look to the plant, lengthens the bloom period, and prevents unwanted seedlings in the garden. Problems Butterfly bushes are relatively trouble free when the proper conditions are provided. However, spider mites can be a problem when the plants are drought stressed. Nematodes are also a problem, particularly in the sandy soils of the coastal plain. Downy mildew, caused by the fungus Peronospora hariotii, may occur during cooler temperatures with extended leaf wetness on Buddleja x Weyeriana cultivars. Pesticide use on these shrubs is discouraged, particularly when in bloom, because of the wide variety of beneficial insects present at that time. Some people with sensitive skin may be irritated by the foliage. Cultivars There are an overwhelming number of cultivars available and also a number of related species and hybrids. The list below contains some of the most commonly available cultivars. It is advisable to buy from reputable nurseries as plants of his species are often mislabeled. Large cultivars (greater than 6 feet tall): 'Attraction' has magenta, nearly red flowers with attractive foliage. 'Bicolor' (B.

x Weyeriana) has lavender flower buds that open to a peachy-pink with a yellow cast as they age. 'Black Night' is the most commonly available cultivar, and has dark purple flowers. The darkest butterfly bush flowers available. 'Dartmoor' has mauve-to lilac-colored flowers borne on large, branched flower heads. 'Guinevere' has vibrant purple-black, fragrant flowers and dark blue-green foliage. 'Honeycomb' (B. x Weyeriana) has fragrant, golden yellow flowers with attractive green foliage. 'Lochinch' has sweet scented, light lavender-violet flowers and felted foliage with a silvery cast. 'Lochinch' is a hybrid between B. davidii and B. fallowiana. Lavender flowers and gray leaves of 'Lochinch' Buddleja. Karen Russ, ©2007 HGIC, Clemson Extension 'Pink Delight' flowers are a true pink on large panicles. The foliage has a silvery cast. 'Royal Red' has long reddish-purple flowers and is extremely attractive to butterflies. 'White Profusion' is the most common white flowered cultivar and is very hardy.

'White Profusion' butterfly bush flower head. Karen Russ, ©2007 HGIC, Clemson Extension Compact cultivars (less than 6 feet tall): 'Ellen's Blue' is a dwarf form (4 feet) with blue-violet flowers. 'Nanho Blue' has mauve to indigo blue flowers. 'Summer Beauty' has deep, rose-pink flowers on a compact plant (to 4 feet) with silvery foliage. 'White Ball' is considered the most dwarf butterfly bush, maxing-out at about 3 feet tall. White flowers cover plant all summer. Related Species Buddleja fallowiana: This is one of the best butterfly bushes for foliage interest. The leaves are 2 to 4 inches long and heavily felted, giving a decidedly silver-gray overall appearance. Plants can reach 10 to 15 feet tall, but can easily be maintained lower. Flower heads are white to lavender and 6 to 8 inches long. 'Alba', the most commonly seen cultivar, is more compact than the species, with white flowers. Sageleaf Butterfly Bush (Buddleja salviifolia): This species is grown primarily for its foliage.

It has highly textured leaves that are coppery-green. Flowers are a pale lavender and not especially showy. It is a large shrub (15 to 20 feet tall) from South Africa. It flowers on the previous year's wood and should be pruned after flowering. It is very hardy and may remain evergreen in Zones 7-9. Soft, felted leaves of sageleaf butterfly bush. Karen Russ, ©2007 HGIC, Clemson Extension Alternate-leaf Butterfly Bush (Buddleja alternifolia): This species is a deciduous shrub with alternate leaves unlike other Buddlejas. It is a very hardy, rapid growing, tall plant (13 to 15 feet) with a weeping habit. This butterfly bush produces purple flowers early in the season on the previous year's wood and should be pruned after flowering. Lindley's Butterfly Bush (Buddleja lindleyana): This butterfly bush has small dark green leaves and lavender-purple flowers. It is a smaller shrub (4-5 feet) with gracefully arching branches and fragrant panicles. This species will spread by suckers to colonize large areas.

Page maintained by: Home & Garden Information Center This information is supplied with the understanding that no discrimination is intended and no endorsement of brand names or registered trademarks by the Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service is implied, nor is any discrimination intended by the exclusion of products or manufacturers not named. All recommendations are for South Carolina conditions and may not apply to other areas. Use pesticides only according to the directions on the label. All recommendations for pesticide use are for South Carolina only and were legal at the time of publication, but the status of registration and use patterns are subject to change by action of state and federal regulatory agencies. Follow all directions, precautions and restrictions that are listed. Site Index: Butterfly Bush: How to Plant, Grow, and Care for Buddleia | The Old Farmer's Almanac Rate this Article: Average: 3.7 (379 votes) Want a guaranteed butterfly treat and hummingbird magnet ? Or, one of the most fragrant of shrubs? Plant a buddleia (butterfly bush). This fast-growing, deciduous shrub with long, arching shoots will reach heights of 6 to 8 feet.

Although the green leaves add a welcome bit of color to any landscape, it is the masses of blossoms—long, seductively spiked trusses—that are special. From summer to autumn, the butterfly bush bears dense panicles, 12 inches or more long, that fill the air with a fruity scent. At its northern limits, the shrubs can die back, sometimes all the way to the ground. No matter. Butterfly bush is vigorous and undemanding and will send up new shoots, given a sunny location and average garden soil. Butterfly bushes might be the only shrub with “butterfly” in their name, but they’re far from the only plant that attracts butterflies . Learn more tips for a butterfly-friendly garden . Note: Butterfly bush can be an invasive species in some areas; check with your local cooperative extension before planting. Planting Buddleias need full sun and fertile, well-drained soil. Plant in spring or fall. Loosen the soil, mix in compost, and dig a hole twice the diameter of the plant container. When placing the plant in the hole, the top of the rootball should be level with the soil surface Space plants 5 to 10 feet apart, depending on the variety.

Water thoroughly. Care Water freely when in growth and sparingly otherwise. In the summer, water if rainfall is less than 1 inch per week. Avoid fertilizing butterfly bush; too much fertility supports leaf growth over flower production. Remove spent flower spikes to encourage new shoots and flower buds. Each spring, apply a thin layer of compost and mulch to retain moisture and control weeds. In cold Northern climates, spread mulch up to 6 inches deep around the trunk to nurture it through the winter. Buddleias are very late to break dormancy, so don’t be in a hurry to assess winter damage. The bush should bloom abundantly even in its first year. In warmer climates, the bushes will grow into trees and develop rugged trunks that peel; peeling is normal. In the northern limit of their range, they behave as herbaceous perennials, dying back to the root in cold winters. Since they bloom on new wood, even if there is no die-back, cut them back to the ground every spring. Even where winters are mild enough for the stems to survive, prune severely to stimulate abundant growth on which flowers are borne.

Pests/Diseases Susceptible to capsid bug, caterpillars, weevils, mullein moth, and spider mites . Fungal leaf spots and die-backs can occur. Luckily, butterfly bushes are one of many deer-resistant plants . Recommended Varieties ‘Lockinch’ is a spreading, vigorous, deciduous shrub with long, arching shoots. mid-green leaves, and fragrant violet-blue flowers. Grows 8 feet tall and 10 feet wide. ‘Petite Indigo’ (syn. ‘Nanho Blue’) has slender leaves and narrow panicles of pale lilac-blue flowers. Grows 4 to 5 feet tall and wide. ‘White Profusion’ has large, very white flower spikes and grows 10 feet high and 15 feet wide. 6 Plants That Beat Butterfly Bush for the Wildlife Draw 6 Plants That Beat Butterfly Bush for the Wildlife Draw Garden Guides → Native Plants 6 Plants That Beat Butterfly Bush for the Wildlife Draw It's invasive, a nonnative and a poor insect magnet. Check out these better alternatives to butterfly bush in the garden Benjamin Vogt September 10, 2013 Houzz Contributor.

I'm a big advocate for bringing the tallgrass prairie into our urban lives -- only 1% remains, making it more threatened than the Amazon rainforest yet also as effective at sequestering CO2. I own Monarch Gardens LLC, a prairie garden consulting & design firm based in Nebraska, and speak nationally on native plants, sustainable design, and landscape ethics. My 4,500’ home garden has been featured online at Garden Design and Fine Gardening, while my writing and photography appears in over 70 publications. In the coming years we’d like to start a boutique nursery and artist residency on a 40+ acre restored prairie. Gardens are revolutions that wake us to our world! Houzz Contributor. I'm a big advocate for bringing the tallgrass prairie into our... More Email Currently Featured in: US Click "Embed" to display an article on your own website or blog. In the late afternoon and early evening, when the summer sun is its most potent, the insects are in frenetic action. All over the garden, the tips of flowers launch into the air — if there were such thing as an insect air traffic controller, it would have lost its mind long ago.

Bees, wasps, flies, moths, beetles and butterflies work to satiate their own hunger on nectar plants, while on others they gather pollen to feed their young miles away. Above the native prairie plants — culver’s root , aster , boneset , coreopsis , milkweed , ironweed and American senna — the sound of wings can be heard 10 feet away. But over by the butterfly bush (Buddleja davidii), one lone tiger swallowtail works the blooms, like a tourist at a restaurant the locals never visit. The Problems With Butterfly Bush No one believes me, not even when I post videos online. The butterfly bush sees one-tenth, even one-twentieth of the action of almost any other native plant. Sure, an occasional butterfly or bumblebee, a sphinx moth, may fly by, but it's hardly anything to write home about. Even just as a nectar source, other nonnatives, like lavender and caryopteris, get far more insects — and as you know, insects are the base of the food chain for birds and us. Here's the thing about butterfly bush. It has proven invasive on both U.S. coasts.

Maybe not in small backyard gardens, but birds carry off the seed to the point that it's popping up in unmanaged fields and roadside areas. A native of Asia, it has no checks and balances in the U.S., and as a larger wildlife-supporting plant, it just doesn't pass muster. I know we all plant butterfly bush to help insects, but the plant's name is simply as successful a marketing tactic as I've ever seen.

Question: What is the name of the shrub known as the butterfly bush?
Answer: Buddleia